The Howitzweissbach duo are tidying up their act with their fifth collection, Fuenf - Aufraeumen. The name means 'five - clean up', and is completely apt given that the lookbook features a simple tri-scheme of black, white and dark forest green and beautifully minimalistic shapes. Leipzig-based designers Eva Howitz and Frieder Weissbach are all about the highly-concentrated colour palettes and zero-fuss silhouettes. And it works.

The love and labour that goes into their production doesn't fall short of astonishing though. They adore luxury fabrics, citing pure silk and merino wool as their favourites, and relish in divine details such as mother-of-pearl buttons. Every piece in the collection is made to be comfortable and elegant.

A shining example of an ethically-run fashion house, their pieces are produced in the middle of Germany's Ore Mountains in an area steeped in strong textile industry tradition. Working very closely with their production gives their pieces a special, personal charm that blows mass-produced items out of the water. There are strong threads of integrity and morals running through each garment.

Although Howitzweissbach exhibited at Paris Fashion Week this year, they avoided taking part in big fashion fairs such as Tranoi, Atmospheres, The Box and Capsule instead favouring their small showroom and channelling their work in their own way. Simplicity all the way.

So fashion doesn't have to be flashy, true style isn't disposable and less is sometimes more.

Words Hayley Pearce